The artist I am selecting for my presentation is Liliana Wilson Grez. (Chile, Painting)
Thoughts on essay:
In “Out of the House, the Halo, and the Whore’s Mask: The Mirror of Malinchismo”, Alicia Gaspar de Alba examines how the intersection of different identities are critical to understanding where Chicanas find themselves in society, and why Chicana artists were so underrepresented in the CARA exhibit. I think reading this essay reminded me of just how unique the Chicana experience is, not just because of the systems that oppress them, rather because of the different symbols and therefore perceptions we attach to different Chicanas. By symbol, I am referring to, for example, the images (we have) of La Virgen de Guadalupe, La Malinche, and La Llorona. From criticizing the macho’s desire of a good whore in La Revolución to speaking out about the way lesbianas are alienated and targeted in the Chicano movement and community, I was constantly taken aback by Gaspar de Alba’s ability to give words to such concepts. As much as I’ve been aware of these strict models and perceptions forced upon Chicanas, it’s not often that I find it critiqued so boldly and described so vividly. I am, unfortunately, not used to queer women and bad whores being talked about much less stood up for in Chicano communities; even our use of la otra to describe an amante strips her of any identity outside of that. There’s this rampant silencing of Chicanas, both those that fit and don’t fit into the models of an ideal woman, that is so harmful to them and the things we are fighting for. For that reason I’m glad we have scholars like Gaspar de Alba bold enough to bring attention to this phenomenon.
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